Chino & Noli

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala yesterday twitted outgoing Philippine Basketball League commissioner Chino Trinidad, saying the SBP and the merger being worked out between Eala’s Liga Pilipinas and the PBL have nothing to do with the affairs of the SBP.

Trinidad had claimed Philippine basketball “is in a bad shape” under the SBP, which is led by industrialist Manny V. Pangilinan, whom Trinidad chastised for leading Talk ‘N Text to walk out from Game 4 of its PBA quarterfinals encounter with Bgy. Ginebra last February, saying it did not qualify for fair play, especially from a team owned by the SBP president himself.

Trinidad also cited an incident during the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament last year, when he received a call from Eala, who complained against “biased officiating” in Game Two between San Beda College and Jose Rizal University. Trinidad took it as an insult and almost pulled out his PBL referees from officiating in the pivotal Game Three.

San Beda, with Pangilinan as its chief benefactor, eventually won the title. It also quashed Eala’s concern about fair officiating.

“I don’t know what’s his beef with the SBP, he has never been involved with the SBP for a long, long time,” Eala said. “SBP is just doing what it has to do. Even if there are some people who do not agree with the way we run our organization, we will still respect them. There should always be mutual respect.”

Trinidad was among the few basketball officials to call for the revamp of the mismanaged Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), an act which soon paved the way for the formation of the SBP. The SBP offered Trinidad a directorial seat but Trinidad turned it down.

Eala also claimed Trinidad should not speak against the PBL-Liga Pilipinas merger since the top PBL official was among those who initially pushed for it.

Trinidad, according to Eala, even assembled a three-man working group composed of Chito Loyzaga of Magnolia, Bernard Yang of Hapee and Ding Camua of Pharex to guarantee the smooth merging of both leagues.

“I really don’t know what changed his mind. Nobody’s taking it away from him. We acknowledge the fact that he is one of the pioneers who are helping us merge Liga Pilipinas and the PBL. I really don’t see any connection with his resignation as PBL commissioner and his accusations against the SBP.”

Meanwhile, officials and representatives of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) yesterday expressed mixed reactions and disbelief over the reported resignation of Commissioner Chino Trinidad.

“I don’t think Chino will do it, he might just be tired,” said Toyota Otis board representative Gil Angeles. “Unless I see him and he says it in front of me that he’s resigning then that’s the time that I will believe (it).”

“Besides, the board has yet to receive a letter informing us about his supposed resignation. For now, we just have to wait for him to arrive before we can act on this matter,” said Angeles noting Trinidad might be tired emotionally since he’s been away from his family for almost a month now.

Source: Julius Manicad, The Daily Tribune